Where is your favorite place that you have lived? For our American friends what State, and for our overseas friends (translation of picture below this post), what county, province, area that you have loved living in? What was there that you enjoyed? My favorite places are the Shenandoah and Williamsburg to name two, love the countryside and my trips to the ocean, but any body of water I enjoy. If you have followed me for a while, every botanical garden that I come across. I also love all these trees.
When we moved here our son was 10 years old, and after we had settled a little, we asked him how did he like it? His exact words were, and with emphasis, “l don’t like it, it’s too GREEN!” Well, you could have knocked me down with a feather. But, what he was really saying was “I miss my friends and everything that was familiar to me.”
Fortunately, once school began, he met lots of friends.
Now as an adult he loves Virginia as if he had been born here, though he and our sweet daughter-in-law started out in California (both dads were in the military).
My dear husband is a Virginia Boy and first arrived in this world 200 miles south. His parents were also navy and hubby followed in his father’s footsteps. After his retirement, that's when we moved back.
Both our son and I were homesick for California for many years. I also missed my friends and everything that was familiar to me.
However, after several more years, we went back to San Diego for a vacation. Once that was over I realized I was looking forward to getting back 'home'. When I walked in our front door I realized that yes, it was indeed home, that I had fallen in love with this State and am now just about as content as I can be. I love Virginia!
I still enjoy California the times we have been back (not for several years now), so does our son who just returned from San Diego with our d-in-l two weeks ago. But Virginia is home now and I hope it always will be. There are always unforeseen circumstances of course, but we certainly don't intend moving again at this stage of our lives.
We lived about 20 miles from the City of San Diego. It had rolling hills, deep canyons and elevated ridges. In some places if there was no rain, the trails and the hills at the back of us could get very dusty, and every once in a while, we would come across a few rattlesnakes. We lived at the bottom of Black Mountain that rises to 1,500 feet. We watched hot-air balloons float low over our heads. They landed a few hundred feet away in a level area. One time they landed too soon at the bottom of the street, and the neighborhood kids got a free ride about 30 feet up while they waited for a truck to come and deflate and pack up the balloon.
A few years later they started dynamiting the mountain and our whole house shook at every blast. There were times we didn't know if it was an earthquake or blasting. That went on for over a year as a good part of the lower mountain was made level enough to build dozens and dozens of homes. Sad, sad, sad we were to see what a change it made to that beautiful mountain, and no more waves from friendly, smiling balloonists as they floated overhead. But we have great memories of seeing their faces as they waved down at us. Many, many other great memories from those days.
62% of Virginia is covered by forests, totaling roughly 15.72 million acres of land, and celebrates the largest trees. Yes, it is very green and we love them. So does our son. This website will give you more information on how they are protected.
Free therapy: sunbathing, grounding and tree hugging.
Thanks for visiting and enjoy your day.
For our overseas friends to use the Translation/language button on my side bar.
Names on the post on the right-hand side.
Shanandoa National Park
Blue Ridge Parkway
Shenandoah Valley
Chesapeake Bay
Williamsburg
Roanoke
Charlottesville
Virginia Beach
Appalachian Trail
The mug next to the white daisies says "Virginia".
The sign being held by the lady says, "I have lived in Virginia off and on for 50 years. Finally moved here permanently in 1990. I love Virginia."
The top blue sign says "Welcome to Viginia. Virginia is for lovers."
Mountains
History
Country Roads
Front Porches
Sweet Tea
Strong Roots
Proud Hearts
Home Sweet Home
I live in Slovenia, in Ljubljana... a bit outside the capital or the center... we're like in the countryside but it's nice... the grass now is like straw... all burnt by the sun... sad :((
ReplyDeleteThat is very interesting and thank you very much. I like to improve my geography and blogging is a wonderful way of doing that. I am very sorry your sun is making everything so dry. I hope you get cooler weather and rain soon :)
DeleteThanks for this interesting post about your life and your family. Yes, I’ve also moved to big cities twice. But we are happy and content where we live now. I would never want to live in a big city again. I don't visit anymore either, as it's too far away and traveling for hours by train is too stressful.
ReplyDeleteHugs Elke
Hello dear Elke :) I am glad you enjoyed knowing a little more about us. I enjoyed learning a little more about you too. I would not want to live in a big city either and prefer quieter places whenever I can. I agree about the trains. Hugs, Denise
DeleteWe have lived in Virginia for almost 60 years and I adore it. It has also been the safest place for weather disasters. We are surrounded by mountains, which feels like they are protecting us. The best place I have ever or will ever live.
ReplyDeleteThat’s wonderful Ginny and that you are very happy :) that’s great to know how the mountains protect you. May it always be so :)
DeleteNicely written Denise of where you have lived and some of what you have seen. I can't believe that part of a mountain was blasted to build houses, it's unbelievable to me.
ReplyDeleteThose balloons sound good, and waving to the people before the houses.
Thank you Margaret, so glad you enjoyed :) l can’t believe it either what they did to that mountain, that it was ever allowed. It was unbelievable, all my neighbors thought the same. Yes, the balloons were great. I am glad we had that opportunity.
DeleteI am very happy where I live now. The only other place that would draw me back would be Québec. I really enjoyed the two and a half years I lived there.
ReplyDeleteThat’s wonderful David. My husband had business in Quebec for many years and used to go back and forth a lot. He loved the city :)
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI have lived in Maryland for almost 70's years now, except for 5 months in Florida.
Hubby and I have lived in our current home for 36 years now.
Shenandoah is one of our favorite place to visit. I love trees too.
Take care, enjoy your day!
Thank you for sharing that Eileen. We have both lived in our current homes just about the same amount of time. I am very happy you also get to enjoy the Shenandoah. We both love trees :)
DeleteI have lived in Pennsylvania all my life and even in the same county.. I’ve been in other states but not long enough to say if I would like them more than where I am right now
ReplyDeleteHi Ann, thanks for sharing :) it sounds like you are content where you live. That’s great!
DeleteI love to visit Virginia and see my brother and sister in law. We don't see each other often, but that makes the visits quite special.
ReplyDeleteI do like Wisconsin especially the winters!
I am happy to hear that Val, distance and between visits do make those get togethers even more special. I have often thought how much I would enjoy experiencing a winter in one of our most northern states :)
DeleteYou can't pay me to have a balloon ride!! Hope your son now loves Virginia :-))
ReplyDeleteI don’t think I will ever go up in one myself Angie. Yes, our son now loves Virginia :)
DeleteI think you have lived in two pretty wonderful areas.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you John, I have been very happy in both states :)
DeleteHmmm. I have always lived in New England. I love where I live right now (New Hampshire) but I could happily move back to Maine too. I've lived in my area for the last 38 years. I grew up in Massachusetts, which I love for many things, but I'm not sure I'd want to live there again since unless you go far west in the state, it is kind of crowded there.
ReplyDeleteHi Erika, I enjoyed reading your comment very much, thanks for sharing :)
DeleteI am a Pennsylvania gal, having lived in Pennsylvania most of my life. My very early years were spent with the Allegheny River in my back yard. Where I live, as an adult, is also with the Allegheny River in my town. I live about 80 miles north of my childhood home.
ReplyDeleteThat’s wonderful Linda :) and how lovely to have always been relatively close to the Allegheny River.
DeleteI was born in England, and lived there for 12 years in a very small village.
ReplyDelete.Emigrated to Ontario, Canada and have been here for 73 years, living in several different homes that were in the same area, where I currently live.
I have been back to the UK many times, love the scenery, flowers, trees, winding roads, quaint villages and ancient buildings.
Would I want to go back? For a long vacation if I was younger, but, for now I watch Escape to the Country.
That’s a good show and I am content watching it too. The older I get, the more I like to stay home. Thank you for sharing about your life, I found it very interesting :)
DeleteYou definitely know why you like Virginia.
ReplyDeleteYes I do, thanks Red :)
DeleteIt is good to be content where you live. Virginia sounds beautiful. It was great to grow up in California and Washington State has been a nice change. Washington state is a beautiful state with so many landscapes to enjoy. Sadly the governing of the state has gone to pot and those in power are taxing us beyond the practical. It is nice to be surrounded by beauty and family which makes things tolerable for the time being.
ReplyDeleteThank you Ellen and so nice to read about you growing up in California. I like both California and Washington State. I would like to go back to visit each one and see our old haunts.
DeleteIch lebe in Deutschland. Geboren bin ich in der Osthälfte Deutschlands. Mit meinen Eltern kam ich kurz vor dem Mauerbau nach Westdeutschland, dort lebe ich noch immer. Seit vielen Jahren habe ich meine Wunschheimat gefunden. Ein kleines Dorf umgeben von vielen Wäldern, sanfte Hügel, viel Landschaft. In einer Stadt möchte ich nicht wohnen.
ReplyDeleteVielen Dank, dass Sie diesen Teil Ihres Lebens mit mir teilen. Ich habe Verwandte in Baden-Württemberg und habe meine Urlaube dort sehr genossen. Ihr Zuhause klingt wunderbar! Ich würde viel lieber in einem kleinen Dorf wohnen als in der Stadt. Wir wohnen derzeit etwa 25 Meilen von Washington D.C. und ebenso weit von den Shenandoah Mountains entfernt. Wir fahren eher in die Berge; in D.C. war ich schon seit einigen Jahren nicht mehr. Ich habe auch gar kein Bedürfnis, in einer Stadt zu leben. Wo wir wohnen, gibt es zwar viele Menschen und viel Verkehr, aber wir sind schnell im Grünen – was ich sehr liebe :)
DeleteHome is where the heart is, and where your love is, there is your home.
ReplyDeleteThat is very true Janice, thank you :)
DeleteDenise you surely proved "Virginia is for Lovers"" campaign and maybe vice versa
ReplyDeleteLovers love Virginia
Hugs cecilia
Thank you Cecilia, we do love it here. Hugs, Denise :)
DeleteI like where I live though it rains a lot! :-D
ReplyDeleteI remember it raining a lot where I grew up. I am happy you like where you live right now. Thanks for sharing Ananka :)
DeleteA lovely look back. Blasting the mountain sounds awful.
ReplyDeleteThank you Christine :) and it was.
DeletePara vacaciones de verano, prefiero los lugares de playa.
ReplyDeleteMaravilloso, gracias por compartir y te deseo una feliz semana.
DeleteI love trees and flowers too. Never saw at Botanical Garden that I didn't love either! x
ReplyDeleteThat's great Kay, we are kindred spirits there :) x
DeleteI have lived in San Diego as a child, Atlanta in the mid 80s and Minnesota for almost all of my life otherwise. Within MN, my favorite place to live was St. Paul. But I left it many years ago to live with my horses. I love my horses more than I love St. Paul!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful! I do like your last sentence Sandra, that's wonderful!
DeleteI did enjoy this post and your look back.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy seeing greenery and trees and fortunately where I live there are many ... although we could do with more rain at the moment ... it has been a hot summer.
All the best Jan
I'm glad Jan, thank you :) I'm glad you live with many trees. I hope you get your rain soon. All the best, Denise
DeleteParece un bello lugar. Me gustaria conocerlo. Me alegra que hayas sido feliz allí. Te mando un beso.
ReplyDeleteMuchas gracias, agradezco tu amable comentario. Te envío un beso.
Deletewe drove thru virginia (west virginia?) many years ago and saw deer wandering around the highway. It was lovely. We live in sunny Queensland but both hubby and myself come from colder areas. I miss the cold weather sometimes...
ReplyDeletecheers
sherry
That's lovely Sherry, I am happy you had a good time over here. That's interesting that you miss the colder weather. I miss the rain and enjoy when we get it here. Where I grew up it rained quite a lot. We have been blessed with a lot this year so far. Cheers, Denise :)
DeleteThat seems like a good spot for you, with nature and much to see or do within easy distance. It was fun to follow your time back! I've only lived in Michigan and the Lansing area, apart from summers up north.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jeanie, I agree with you, we do enjoy it here :) Glad you enjoyed my memories and thank you for letting me know about Michigan and the Lansing area too.
DeleteYou probably won’t be surprised to hear that I love Virginia, especially the Shenandoah Valley and the mountains surrounding it. That’s why I moved here. I grew up near Alexandria, and I love that too.
ReplyDeleteNo, not surprised but still delighted :) Alexandria is a place I enjoy also.
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